The Perfect Thanksgiving Setting

Celebrate the holidays in style with these tips for a polished tablescape

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This is the day to bring out the good china, polish the silverware and yes, even iron the napkins. After all, you've probably spent hours shopping, slicing and dicing, baking and preparing for this once-a-year feast. And don't your family, friends and you deserve it?

1. Center Stage
A table on top of a table? You bet. To create yours, nail together two 32" x 7" pieces of wood, then stain them a golden oak shade and attach gold-painted finials. Finish the look with gourd and squash vases. You can either remove this festive centerpiece when it's turkey time or serve your meal from it. Tip: If adding flowers or ghourds, to make them last longer, set in a water-filled votive holder inside the gourd.

2. The Name Game
Cheery placecards make nice favors. Simply turn over a small terra-cotta pot and tie on a paper leaf with raffia. Personalize the leaf with gold ink, then set the pot on a folded napkin, a real leaf and a slice of dried fruit.

3. Sitting Pretty
Give chairs a special touch by tying richly colored moiré ribbon through the latticework. Loop faux leaves and acorns over the ribbon, if you like.

4. Side Show
A side table is the perfect place for a soup tureen or punch bowl. Try placing your tureen inside a large gold bowl and surrounding it with flowers. Fill an urn with fall fruit, then top with a small candle and faux bittersweet. Or wrap bittersweet around small glass holders and tie with raffia to create decorative votives. (These also look nice scattered on the main table.)

5. On the Table
A tablecloth sets the stage. Transform two plain ones into autumnal runners by edging each with contrasting ribbon that can be attached with iron-on tape. For the grand finale, glue on felt leaves and green yarn stems.